Bong Go continues to help bring primary healthcare to communities
photograph courtesy of SBG Senator Christopher ‘Bong’ Go.
Daily Tribunephotograph courtesy of SBG Senator Christopher ‘Bong’ Go.
Senator Bong Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, applauded the Department of Health and the local government unit of Balingasag, Misamis Oriental for the groundbreaking of its Super Health Center on Wednesday, 13 December.
The Super Health Center aims to enhance the accessibility of healthcare for the LGU's constituents.
Go, in a video message, highlighted the need for essential healthcare services, particularly in remote and impoverished areas. He pointed out the goal of Super Health Centers in fulfilling basic health needs. He also stressed the importance of providing medical services for the poor and urged increased investments in the healthcare system especially in grassroots communities.
The senator was instrumental in pushing for adequate funding to ensure that more Super Health Centers are established across the country. Some 307 Super Health Centers were funded in 2022 through Go's initiative in coordination with DOH, LGUs, and fellow lawmakers, and 322 more Super Health Centers in 2023.
For Misamis Oriental, more Super Health Centers will be established including those in Gingoog City, Binuangan, Libertad, Claveria, Initao, and Tagoloan. There will also be six other Super Health Centers in Cagayan de Oro City.
"Pwede na po diyan yung panganganak, dental, laboratory, at x-ray at ang ikinaganda nito diyan na po yung primary care ng Universal Health Care. Hindi nyo kailangang pumunta ng mga hospital na malalayo, dito na po. Early disease detection para hindi na po lumala yung sakit at pwede na po dito yung Konsulta Package ng PhilHealth. Magpa-checkup po kayo kapag nandidiyan na yung Super Health Center," explained Go.
Additionally, Go supports government medical assistance through the Malasakit Centers in Northern Mindanao Medical Center and J.R. Borja General Hospital in Cagayan de Oro City.
The Malasakit Centers program, a brainchild of Go, establishes convenient one-stop-shops where various government agencies, including the DOH, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, come together under one roof. These Malasakit centers were institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11463, principally authored and sponsored by Go.
Furthermore, Go's efforts to improve access to healthcare align with RA 11959 or the Regional Specialty Centers Act, mandating specialty centers in DOH regional hospitals. Go is the principal sponsor and one of the authors in the Senate of RA 11959. It plays an important role in the healthcare legislative agenda of the Marcos Administration, as outlined in the Philippine Development Plan covering the years 2023 to 2028. This legislation is designed to establish Regional Specialty Centers within existing regional hospitals under DOH jurisdiction.
To further help with the recovery of the province, Go, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, supported the flood control projects in Magsaysay, Medina and Gingoog City; the construction of multipurpose buildings in Initao, Magsaysay and Gingoog City; rehabilitation of local roads in Balingasag, Initao, Lagonglong, Laguindingan, Libertad, Lugait, Magsaysay, Manticao and El Salvador City; and the construction of water systems in Balingasag and Jasaan.
He was also instrumental in the construction of a drainage system and flood control structures along the Iponan River, the acquisition of several ambulance units, fire and dump trucks, and the construction of a three-story multipurpose building in Barangay 33 in Cagayan de Oro City.